Writers

Still more goals for McCaw and All Blacks

Having posted 121 Tests, led the All Blacks to a World Cup and with many other rugby honours to his name there are still targets for New Zealand captain Richie McCaw.

McCaw sees that as a suitable goal for the side as they prepare to play France, England and Ireland on successive weekends.

Achieving three wins would complete a season of 14 matches without defeat.

The All Blacks of 1997 played 11 Tests but had one draw in their schedule.

McCaw said in Paris on Wednesday: "I think the team wants to add to the legacy of the All Blacks.

"We have achieved a lot of wonderful things in the past few years and this squad wants to add another thing to that list.

"To be the number one team is where we want to be at," he said.

But they were not getting ahead of themselves and had only to recall their loss to England last year to know that things don't always go to plan.

McCaw said the match would be tough, as it always was in France, and he said while France lost the series in New Zealand in June 3-0 they had shown their improvement by the third Test and the All Blacks would have to be wary of them.

While France's coach Philippe Saint-Andre has rated McCaw's team as the best All Blacks team, McCaw wasn't sure it was better than the team which won the World Cup in 2011.

But he did say the side was right 'up there'.

"There is a depth of players with the experience of people like myself and lots of young talent coming through, who would all deserve to play a Test on this tour, but with 36 players in the squad that is not possible.

"It is hard to know whether we are better than the 2011 team. There is definitely less experience in this squad, but it is equal in talent," he said.

As has become common the Test on Sunday is close to Remembrance Day and is for the Dave Gallaher Trophy, named in honour of the 1905-06 All Blacks captain who was killed during the Battle of Passchendaele in 1917.

That connection between the All Blacks and their past was something that always lifted to play well against France, especially when in France.

"That is pretty special for me and the other players and we want to put up a performance that reflects that," he said.